Structure of radiator for heating

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a radiator structure comprising several elements ( 10 ) for heating systems in households, offices and the like, where each radiator element is composed of a top and bottom head ( 11, 12 ) and of a set of parallel tubes ( 13 ) positioned and fixed between said heads, and the heads are made by injection moulding of a thermoplastic material and the tubes are extruded by co-injection of an external layer ( 13′ ) of a plastic material and an internal reinforcing fibre or glass beads layer ( 13″ ). The heads have cavities or lead-ins to insert the ends of the tubes into and to form the radiator they are welded side by side.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns in general heating devices for houses, offices, etc., that circulate a thermal carrier liquid, usually water, and refers in particular to an innovative radiator for heating.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE

Traditional type radiators usually have a structure which comprises several elements, made either of cast iron, die-cast aluminium alloy or die-formed sheet metal, and assembled side by side, the number varying depending to the thermal radiation capacity required.

According to the known technique however, each radiator element has vertical conduits which extend between two horizontal, top and bottom heads which, when radiator is assembled, form the manifolds to which the feed and return water pipes of the system are connected. In these radiators, besides being completely made of metal, the horizontal heads and vertical conduits are substantially integral and are in communication for the circulation of the water. The radiators designed in this way are obviously heavy and not easy for operators to handle for transport and installation, and furthermore are lacking in the possibility of choice of length and shape and therefore the form has remained practically unchanged over the time. They also require a surface finish which is generally a coat of paint which is subject however to ageing and to peeling over the years, so it needs restoring to give the radiator its original look.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION

It is the objective of the invention to propose a new, original radiator for heating constructed by assembling elements made by moulding mainly plastic material and configured as required.

The objective and consequent advantages are reached with a radiator for heating comprising a number of elements, each of which made up of a top and bottom head and of a set of tubes positioned and fixed between said heads, and where the top and bottom heads are made by injection moulding of a thermoplastic material and the tubes are extruded by co-injection of an external layer made of a plastic material and an internal reinforcing layer made of fibre or glass beads.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will however be illustrated below in detail making reference to the enclosed indicative and not limiting drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross-section of a radiator element; and

FIG. 2 shows a side view of some radiator elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As represented, the radiator is made up of several elements 10 each one having a top head 11, a bottom head 12, and a number of tubes 13.

The top and bottom heads 11, 12, each one being preferably identical to the other, are made by injection moulding of a plastic material, preferably thermoplastic resins. Each head has a body 14 forming a chamber 15 and a plurality of cavities or lead-ins 16, the latter in communication with the chamber through respective conduits 17.

Externally, each head has a jacket 18 spaced from the body 14 and forming with the latter a hollow space 19 for a correct surface finish hiding from view any deformations caused by material shrinkage.

The tubes 13 can be made from a tubular element manufactured by an extrusion process, in particular by co-injection of a plastic material the same as the one used for the heads 11, 12 forming an external layer 13′ of the tube, and a fibre or glass beads based reinforcing material, forming an internal layer 13″ of the tube itself.

The heads 11, 12 and tubes 13 are prepared separately. Then they are assembled by fixing the opposite ends of the tubes 13 in the cavities or lead-ins 16 of the two heads 11, 12, by welding or using any other appropriate means, but however without the need for seals, so as to form a radiator element 10. The complete radiator is then made up by welding a number of elements 10 together side by side, for example hot blade welding of the contiguous and mating 20 surfaces of the top and bottom heads as shown in FIG. 2, so that the aligned heads form manifolds for the circulation of heating water in the tubes.

It should be noted that the top and bottom heads of at least one of the end elements of the number of elements comprising the radiator, indicated by 10′ in FIG. 2, will also be equipped with a projecting part 21 designed to form a fitting to connect the radiator to the feed and return pipes for the water circulating in the heating system the radiator is installed in.

Compared to the radiators using the known technique, the radiator according to the invention and described above will have numerous advantages, such as:

light in weight, facilitating transport and installation on the part of the operators,

possibility of making a radiator in different colours depending on its destination and final setting,

lack of paint which could deteriorate and be the cause of toxic emissions,

colouring unalterable over the years,

use of long-lasting and totally re-usable materials,

use also of materials able to change colour when the radiator is functioning, producing particular aesthetic effects, versatilities in sizes and heights with a choice of length of the tubes,

absence of seals and no rust points,

silent function,

insensitivity towards parasitic currents and anti-staticity, on request,

cleaning of water in circulation,

lack of danger should it receive knocks, furthermore with the possibility of being equipped with an external anti-knock protection for use in kindergartens, schools, and rest homes, to protect children and the elderly. 

1. A radiator structure comprising: a number of elements for heating systems in households, offices and the like, each element having a top head and a bottom head and a set of parallel tubes positioned and fixed between said top head and said bottom head, each of said top head and said bottom head being manufactured by injection molding of a plastic material and the tubes being extruded by co-injection of an external layer of plastic material and an internal reinforcing layer of fiber or glass beads.
 2. A radiator structure according to claim 1, wherein each head has a body forming a chamber and a plurality of base cavities or lead-ins, which are in communication with said chamber through respective conduits, and wherein opposite ends of said tubes are inserted into the cavities or lead-ins of the two heads and fixed to them by welding.
 3. A radiator structure according to claim 2, wherein the body of each head has an external finishing jacket to avoid being able to see the deformations caused by shrinkage of the material.
 4. A radiator structure according to claim 1, wherein said radiator elements are welded side by side and a predetermined number of radiator elements are provided.
 5. A radiator structure according to claim 1, wherein the heads of at least one end element of the assembled radiator are each provided with a projecting part, said projecting part forming a fitting to connect to feed and return pipes for water circulating in the heating system.
 6. A radiator structure according to claim 1, wherein the radiator elements can be equipped with an anti-knock protection.
 7. A radiator structure according to claim 1, wherein each head and the external layer of each tube are made of a thermoplastic material.
 8. A radiator structure according to claim 1, wherein the material is colored.
 9. A radiator structure according to claim 1, wherein the material is the iridescent color type when heated by the radiator. 